No. 2 USC to re-focus after 1st loss
COLUMBIA — There are few things South Carolina forward A’ja Wilson hates in basketball more than losing. And she can’t wait for the second-ranked Gamecocks to get back on the court after their first defeat of the season.
South Carolina (22-1, 10-0 Southeastern Conference) will face No. 16 Florida (19-4, 7-3) on Thursday, seeking to rebound after its 66-54 loss to No. 1 UConn on Monday night.
“We’re bouncing back pretty good,” Wilson said Wednesday. “It’s a loss and I don’t think any of us like to lose. I know coach doesn’t, so she’s really getting on us.”
Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said she’s worked the team hard the past two days and been pleased with their strong response. Then again, Staley’s steered things back in the winning direction — South Carolina is 56-4 the past two years — the few times her team has gotten beat.
When South Carolina fell to UConn in 2015, also ending a 22-0 start, The Gamecocks went on to win the Southeastern Conference regular season crown. When South Carolina lost to Kentucky in the regular-season finale to prevent a perfect league season, the Gamecocks rebounded with a run to the SEC Tournament title and the Final Four.
Staley sees a familiar fire at practice preparing for the surprising Gators, looking to beat a fifth ranked opponent this season.
Staley said she was annoyed as anyone that South Carolina couldn’t topple UConn. She did, however, find several positives in defeat: The Gamecocks defense and reserve Sarah Imovbioh among them.
South Carolina held UConn, which came in averaging 90 points a game, to its fewest points this season.
Imovbioh, the Virginia transfer, played her most impactful game with 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting and added eight rebounds during a stretch where Wilson dealt with a bruised left shin that kept her out almost all of the third quarter.
“Our team understands the bigger picture,” said Staley, who has all eyes back on the SEC.
Facing the Huskies draws interest from everywhere and sends emotions soaring because of the highly rated matchup, Staley said.
“It’s a hard game, it’s an emotional game,” she said. “But when you jolt yourself back into the SEC, you get a top 16 team in the country. You don’t rest on your laurels. You’ve got to get back in the SEC mode.”
No one’s been better than the Gamecocks in the SEC this season. Every other SEC team has at least three losses.
Wilson does not thing the disappointment of losing to UConn will linger Thursday night.
“I think we all learned from that game and this team will come back better and stronger,” she said.
She said she’s sore, but ready to go against the Gators.
The Gamecocks will continue to be without senior starter Asia Dozier, who injured her right hand against Texas A&M three games ago. She missed contests with Kentucky and UConn and won’t play against Florida, Staley said.